Washington Nationals making calls on Aroldis Chapman, other relievers
The Nationals bullpen looks very different from a season ago. Rafael Soriano, Tyler Clippard and Jerry Blevins are all in new uniforms and Craig Stammen and Aaron Barrett are currently recovering from respective injuries on the disabled list. Newcomers like Casey Janssen (signed in the offseason) and Matt Grace (called up in late April) have produced inconsistent results, and as a result, Mike Rizzo is looking for bullpen help.
FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi first reported the news that the Nationals were making calls on relievers on Friday, later adding that they’ve specifically discussed closer Aroldis Chapman with the Cincinnati Reds.
Talks between the two clubs regarding Chapman are reportedly in preliminary stages at best, but the Nationals have long liked the Cuban flamethrower (they were second in bidding back in 2010). Current Washington closer Drew Storen has been perhaps the lone consistency in the Nats’ pen this season (he’s second in the National League with 19 saves), but the Nationals as a team already have nine blown saves this season and could stand to add another shutdown option into the late-inning mix.
Chapman remains under team control through next season, and despite a somewhat concerning 5.6 BB/9 rate, he’s continued striking out batters at a 14.5 K/9 rate and has returned to form as of late after a rocky start to the year. His added year of control gives the Reds leverage in the prospect haul they could seek in return, and it remains unclear whether the two clubs could ultimately agree on a reasonable price for the three-time All Star.
Morosi said the Nationals have made calls on both left- and right-handed relievers, with some pegging former Nat Tyler Clippard as a candidate to return to the nation’s capital at some point this summer.
Rizzo knows the expectations for this season, and many expect Washington’s front office to be aggressive on the trade front this summer to make the necessary additions for a deep postseason run. But with Nationals currently in second in the NL East and fourth in the Wild Card standings, those acquisitions could be coming sooner rather than later.